Aircraft.



C. G. NELSON.

AIRCRAFT.

' APPLICA HON FILED SEPT.5, I918. 1,318,791 iatentvd Oct. 14,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVEN 7 2/ r/ 6'. Ne/son By Mfr/0'2 9 FITTOENEY c. G. NELSON1' AIRCRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 5,1918.

1,818,791. Patented OCT. 11,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IvvE/vfoz Car/ Cr. /V 9/6 am CARL G. NELSON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 14:, 1919.

Application filed September 5, 1918. Serial No. 252,677.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL G. NELSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Aircraft, of which the following is a specification, the rinciple of the invention being herein explalned and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present improvements, relating, as indicated, to aircraft, have more especial regard to the construction of aeroplanes. The object of the invention is to produce a construction in which considerable size and lifting power can nevertheless be combined with a relatively high rate of speed. To this end a plurality of lanes is provided,- more than the two of t e'familiar bi-plane, and I also propose to'employ a plurality of propellers. These features are in themselves not necessarily novel, but the par ticular combination and relation of planes and the disposition and mounting of the propellers, together with the way in which power is supplied thereto, are presented as improvements over the known state of the art.

' The invention then consists of the means fully described and particularly pointed out 3, 4:, and 5 supported substantia 1y equidistantly apart in a vertical direction, and secured ,together y an suitable system of struts and braces. (If these planes, the uppermost 1 and middle one 3 may be regarded as the main planes, being ofgreater longitudinal extent, although preferably of approximately the same width as the other shorter planes. Two of the latter viz. planes 2 and 4, are displaced to the rear, as

tremities with ailerons 6, 6 of familiar form and mode of operation.

The main hulls, 7, 7, equidistantly disposed from the median line of the ship, are utilized to carry the engines as well as any freight and the necessary operators for the engines. .The prows of the hulls project forwardly of the planes sufliciently to carry gun mountings 8, 8, if the craft is to be used in war, while their sterns 9, 9, project rearwardly to the tail structure, which comprises two fixed horizontal planes, 10, 10 to each of which is attached a pair of horizontal rudders 11, 11, separated or cut away to allow free play to a vertical rudder 12 pivoted about a central vertical axis. Supported, preferably above the level of the two hulls just described is a cabin with windows for observation purposes, such cabin being designed to carry passengers as well as the pilot. The various controls will all be centered in such cabin, as need not be explainedin detail. There may also be provided supplemental observation cabins, or rather hulls, 1 1, 14, one above each of the main hulls, as best shown in the front elevational view of Fig. 2. These latter will be of more particular use in warfare to carry supplemental observers and gunners.

As illustrated, each plane has struts arranged in alinement, the struts being arranged in sets of three. The forwardly displaced planes 1, 3 and 5 are connected by struts 20 which extend the full distance between each two of these planes. These struts 20 are placed near the forward edges of the planes. The two rearwardly disposed planes 2 and 4 are likewise connected near their rear edges by struts 21. The other two struts 22 of each set are approximately half the length of struts 20 and 21 and connect adjacent planes. In this way both alternate and adjacent planes are secured together and braced so as to make a safe and rigid construction. The wings are also formed with three main transverse spars 23 shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1. I

The ower plant consists of two as engines not shown) one in each of t e two hulls 7, 7. These engines are directly connected with electric dynamos, and the several propellers 15, of which six are preferably used, symmetrically disposed, as shown in Fig. 2, are designed to be operated by directly connected electric motors 1G in circuit with said dynamos. The current requires to be conveyed only a relatively short distance so that no great loss is involved, and the arrangement of wiring is such that any or all of said propellers ,n iay be operated from either or both of the generators, or, in other words, by either or both of the two engines which constitute the power plant.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a flying machine of the character described, the combination of planes more than two in number supported one above the other, each plane being provided with forward, intermediate and rear struts, the first plane above the lowest being disposed rearwardly to bring its leading edge substantially to the intermediate struts of the lowest plane and the second plane above the lowest being disposed forwardly to bring its leading edge substantially to the front struts of the lowest plane in end view.

2. In a flying machine of the character described, the combination of planes more than three in number supported one above the other, each plane being provided with forward, intermediate and rear struts, the first plane above the lowest being disposed rearwardly to bring its leading edge substantially to the intermediate struts of the lowest plane, the second plane above the lowest being disposed forwardly to bring its leading edge substantially to the front struts of the lowest plane in end view, and the third-plane above the lowest being disposed rearwardly to bring its leading edge substantially to the intermediate struts of the next lower plane.

3. In a flying machine of the character described, the combination of planes more than four in number supported one above the other, each plane being provided with forward, intermediate and rear struts, the first plane above the lowest being disposed rearwardly to bring its leading edge substantially to the intermediate struts of the lowest plane, the second plane above the lowest being disposed forwardly to bring its leading edge substantially to the front struts of the lowest plane in end view, the third plane above the lowest being disposed rearwardly to bring its leading edge substantially to the intermediate struts of the next lower plane and the fourth plane above the lowest being disposed forwardly to bring its leading edge substantially to the front struts of the lowest plane.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of planes more than two in number, supported one above the other, said planes overlapping and being disposed in staggered relation to each other in end view, the upper plane and an intermediate plane being of the same transverse extent and these two planes being of greater transverse extent than the ones immediately below said planes, respectively.

5. In a flying machine of the character described, the combination of planes more than two in number supported one above the other and'being disposed in staggered relation to each other in end view, each plane being provided with forward, intermediate and rear struts, the next to the lowest plane being placed rearwardly to the intermediate struts of the lowest plane, the second from the lowest plane being disposed forwardly in alinement with the lowest plane, and having its front struts connecting with the lowest plane.

6. In a flying machine of the character described, the combination of planes more than three in number, supported one above the other in staggered relation to each other in end view, each plane being provided with forward, intermediate and rear spars and struts. the next to the lowest plane being displaced rearwardly to bring its leading edge substantially to the intermediate struts of the lowest plane, the second from the lowest plane being disposed forwardly in substantially vertical alinement with the lowest plane. the third from the lowest plane being disposed rearwardly in substantially vertical alinement with the next to the lowest plane, the front struts of the lowest and third planes connecting their front spars, and the rear struts of the second and fourth planes connecting the rear spars of these planes.

7. In a flying machine of the character described, the combination of planes more than four in number, supported one above the other in staggered relation to each other in end view, each plane being provided with forward, intermediate and rear spars and struts, the next to the lowest plane being displaced rearwardly to bring its leading edge substantially to the intermediate struts of the lowest plane, the second from the lowest plane being disposed forwardly in substantially vertical alinement with the lowest plane, the third from the lowest plane being disposed rearwardly in substantially vertical alinement with the next to the lowest plane, the fourth from the lowest plane being disposed forwardly in substantially vertical alinement with the lowest and second from the lowest planes, the front struts connecting the forward spars of the lowest, third and fifth planes, and therear struts of the second and fourth planes conwardly with respect to the other planes, and.

the uppermost and third planes being of greater transverse extent than the remaining planes; and ailerons attached to said uppermost and third lanes.

9. In a machine oft e character described, the combination of five planes supported one above the other, the second and fourth planes from the top being displaced rearwardly with respect to the other planes, and the uppermostand third lanes being of greater transverse extent tian the remaining planes; ailerons attached to said uppermost and third planes; and two hulls carried below the lowermost plane equidistantly from the median line of the machine.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of five planes supported one above the other, the second and fourth planes from the top being displaced rearwardly with respect to the other planes, and the uppermost and third planes being of greater transverse extent than the remaining plane s; ailerons attached to said uppermost and third planes; two hulls carried below the lowermost plane equidistantly from the median line of the machine; and an observation compartment carried at a higher lever over such median line.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of five planes supported one above the other, the sec nd and fourth planes from the top being displaced rearwardly with respect to the other planes but overlapping the same for a portion of their area, the uppermost and third planes being of greater transverse extent than the remaining planes; two hulls carried below the lowermostplane equi-distantly from the median line of the machine, and two cabins carried between upper planes, said cabins being alined over said-hulls.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of five planes supported one above the other, the second and fourth planes from the top being displaced rearwardly with respect to the other planes but overlapping the same for a portion of their area, the uppermost and third planes being of greater transverse extent than the remaining planes, two hulls carried below the lowermost plane equi-distantly from the median line of the machine, and an observationrcompartment carried at a higher level over such median line, and two supplementary cabins carried at a still higher level and alined over said hulls.

13. In'a machine of the character described, the combination of five planes supported one above the other, the second and fourth planes from the top being displaced rearwardly but overlapping the remaining planes for the major portion of their area,

struts connecting the rear edges of the second and fourth planes, struts connecting the forward edgesof the first and third, and third and fifth planes, and other struts connecting the second and fourth planes to the remaining adjacent planes.

Signed by me, this 3rd day of September, 1918.

CARL G. NELSON. 

